Just as she did six years ago trainer Lucinda Russell broke the Irish domination of the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse as Corach Rambler stormed home to give her a superb second victory.
While there was a delay to the 175th running of the world's greatest steeplechase as animal rights protestors got onto the course, there was no stopping Russell's nine-year-old, who was sent off the well-backed 8-1 favourite. Under Derek Fox, who was only confirmed to ride in the race on the eve of the Grand National after suffering an injury, Corach Rambler came home ahead of a runner from the Emerald Isle – Gavin Cromwell's Vanillier (20-1) – to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Willie Mullins' Galliard Du Mesnil (10-1) was a further four-and-three-quarters back in third and last year's winner Noble Yeats (10-1) ran a gallant race in the defence of his crown in fourth another length-and-a-half adrift. But it was all about the winner Corach Rambler – who 40 years on from when Jenny Pitman became the first woman train the winner of the Grand National with Corbiere – helped Russell to equal the former 'Queen of Aintree' with two successes.
Corach Rambler had shot to the head of the ante-post betting after he won the Ultima Handicap Chase for a second successive season at last month's Cheltenham Festival. And being officially 10lb 'well-in' on the handicap following that second victory, he came into the race seemingly with all the attributes to go well. And so it proved, with punters sending him off the favourite despite the likes of Ain't That A Shame, Gaillard Du Mesnil, Delta Work and Noble Yeats being similarly well-backed.
Corach Rambler was travelling and jumping well in rear, as he always does, biding his time under jockey Fox, who also partnered One For Arthur – who sadly died from colic a few weeks ago – to victory. Fox then made his move through the field, as he did in both those victories at Prestbury Park, and came to lead over the final fence before powering away from his rivals. Vanillier, under qualified pilot Sean Flanagan, was similarly in rear for much of the race before flying home late to grab second – but too late to ever get to the winner.
After the race, Russell had a word for the protestors about animal welfare and reiterated why she and her team at Kinross in Scotland have a real love and affinity for their horses. Along with her assistant and partner – the former champion jump jockey Peter Scudamore – they are so passionate about all those in their care. Scudamore had taken part in the infamous void National 30 years ago when protestors similarly delayed the race, before several false starts meant in the end the result, with Pitman's Esha Ness victorious, didn't stand.
Russell believes the guts and determination showed by her winner is the perfect answer to those who would want to stop the world's greatest steeplechase. She said: "Those guys that went out to protest on the course, they think it's about horse welfare but that horse loves the sport. He loves everything that he does. He's kept in the best condition and I'm just so delighted that he can run in a race like that and perform like that. He has got greatness and it's what he deserves. Corach Rambler, in our hearts, is just the best horse. Now in the public hearts he is as well. To win the National, I know how important it is, I know how it changed my life with (One For) Arthur – for Corach to achieve that too is just fantastic.
"It's all about the horse, for me it's not about the betting – though I did back him and quite a lot actually! I hope those guys who were protesting will look at our website and our Facebook posts and see how they are looked after. It is so important they understand how we care for them every inch of the way. It is about Corach, he is just amazing. He took to those fences brilliantly, he understood them, he worked them out – he loved it."
After the race Russell and her team scattered the ashes of previous National hero One For Arthur by the winning post.
Fox, who had not ridden for the first two days of this year's Grand National Festival in order to recover from a shoulder injury in time to ride Corach Rambler, also timed his return to perfection.
He said: “I can’t believe it. It is all thanks to the horse, Corach Rambler. He jumped and travelled all the way. I was no more than a sitting passenger all the way. He is the most wonderful horse and I was very lucky to get the ride on him. He has been the most the wonderful horse and he deserved to win this. I got a fall last week and banged my shoulder which was far from ideal. I was worried all week as I thought this horse could do it today and I’m just thankful that I made it back in time as it was the thrill of my life to have ridden him. My physio Jenny Drysdale has done a great job working on it all week and it is thanks to her that I’m back and ready to go for today. I got it this morning really (the all clear to ride). I wasn’t stood down as such. I was only amber lighted as they say so it was my own decision to come back. I had to do some press ups this morning to make sure I was fit. I was very lucky to have passed the doctor in time. It is thanks to Lucinda and Scu (Peter Scudamore) for having the faith in me to put me up having not ridden all week. I feel very lucky to be working for such great people. I think he had the profile (for the race) and he has loads of class.”
Cameron Sword, a 21-year-old student who forms part of the winning ownership syndicate, The Ramblers, was overjoyed. He said: “Derek rode a blinder! He was leading, he was at the front for most of that race, and we were thinking he should be a bit further back, but Derek Fox rode a blinder. And Corach Rambler – what a horse. I’m lost for words. How can people be protesting against horseracing when your protests are making these horses wait out in the sun for even longer? It makes no sense. They can do one – this is our sport and I love it. I’ll be out in Liverpool tonight!”
There were 17 horses who finished the National with Rachael Blackmore coming home last of those. Peter Fahey's The Big Dog was fifth, with 50-1 outsider sixth and Roi Mage and Nicky Henderson's Mister Coffey, who had large part of the 4m21/2f contest finished seventh and eighth respectively. The Patrick Griffin-trained Roi Mage, is part-owned by Liverpool-born former Adelphi bellboy Jim Beaumont and Scot Douglas Pryde, who won the National with Auroras Encore 10 years ago.
Sadly Sandy Thomson's Hill Sixteen lost his life after a fall, which may add fuel to the protestors' fire. But another spectacular race and a heart-warming victory should be what are taken from another spectacular Grand National.
